Occasions

SCENE

October roars in with steady stream of socials

October 06, 2002|By Tina Bradford, Special to The Morning Call - Freelance

VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION SAYS

"VIVA LAS VEGAS' IN SOUTH BETHLEHEM

Casino nightlife will meet ethnic south Bethlehem when the Visiting Nurse Association of St. Luke's presents Las Vegas on the South Side, Saturday, Oct. 12, 6-10 p.m.

The lively evening, to benefit VNA's Nurse-Family Partnership, will be held at the Comfort Suites, Bethlehem. In addition to a live and silent auction, there'll be plenty of games plus hors d'oeurves, entrees and desserts from south Bethlehem's many ethnic restaurants. The evening is headed up by Beth Boyer and attorney Kathleen Mills, who are serving as co-chairmen.

Tickets are $25 per person. For more information about Las Vegas on the South Side, or the Nurse-Family Partnership, call the VNA of St. Luke's at 610-691-1100. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

COMMUNITY LEADERS FETED

BY ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION

The Arthritis Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania, Lehigh Valley Unit, is holding An Evening of Honors at the Clarion Hotel, Allentown, Saturday, Oct. 12.

Rudy and Rose Ackerman will be honored as community leaders of the year at this black-tie only event.

Elmer Gates will receive the Philanthropic Award. William Iobst will be awarded the 2002 Spirit of Health and Education. Charles Ludivico will be given the 2002 Spirit of Wellness Award. Cost per person is $200 or $375 for a couple.

For more information about the event or sponsorships, call Zeni Jackson at 610-776-6632. Proceeds from the dinner will benefit the organization's summer camp for children.

JUDGE RICHARD D. GRIFO HONORED TODAY

AT SONS OF ITALY LODGE

The Lehigh Valley Lodge of the Order of Sons of Italy will hold its annual Columbus Day banquet 5-11 p.m. today at the Holiday Inn of Bethlehem, Hanover Township.

There will be a special tribute to Northampton County Senior Judge Richard D. Grifo in honor of the Easton resident's contributions to the community. An entourage of Grifo family members will be at the dinner, including his wife, Leonarda. The couple have three daughters, Antonia, Francesca and Carla.

More than 300 people are expected to attend this sold-out Columbus Day event.

The Lehigh Valley Lodge will be renamed the Judge Richard D. Grifo Lodge.

Grifo is recognized as the first son of an immigrant to sit on the bench of Northampton County as a law judge. Grifo was first elected to the court of common pleas in Northampton County in 1968.

For more information about the event, call attorney Paula Roscioli of Easton at 610 258-2828.

NITE LITE WOWS 1,350 GUESTS

AT BETHLEHEM STEEL SITE

Call it a social revolution of the industrial kind. Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network traveled from the past into the future with its 2002 Nite Lites benefit dinner dance Sept. 28 at the historic Bethlehem Steel Foundry in south Bethlehem.

The massive 19th-century structure, replete with weathered stone, arched windows and all the texture and grit an industrial dinosaur can muster, turned black-tie glamour as Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network rolled out the red carpet to entertain 1,350 sponsors and guests.

An elegant billowy white tent extended the length of the foundry as countless sparkling white lights offered illumination. The effect was stunningly simple, and reminiscent of art created by artist Christo.

The event benefited the Divisions of Orthopedic Surgery and Rheumatology at the hospital. One of the largest fundraisers in the Lehigh Valley, Nite Lites 2002 was expected to raise at least $450,000, according to Brian Downs, spokesperson for the hospital.

PIG ROASTS A GROWING SOCIAL TREND

At least two pig roasts were held in the Lehigh Valley Sept. 28. With clear skies and cool temps, it was a glorious day. Not for pigs perhaps, but for guests who had a chance to sup at either of these outdoor fetes.

In Bethlehem's Monocacy Hills section, it was a pig roast Midwest style at the home of Patrick Henry and Susan Wagner. Henry, who hails from the Midwest, roasted a 99-pound pig to entertain guests from many walks of life including work, neighbors and family.

Highlights from the Henry/Wagner roast included a giant sparkling diamond engagement ring as Patrick and Susan announced their long-awaited engagement.

Meanwhile, roast pig was also the order of the day in Whitehall Township where members of the Ptarmigan Ski Club held court over its 88-pound roast pig; with 11 different Oktoberfest brews and talk of snow.

Host of the fete was former club president Bill Ortner who is employed by Agere Systems in Allentown. Nearly 70 members attended the Ptarmigan Ski Club of the Lehigh Valley pre-season launch party, which also featured a 20-pound ham, bratwurst cooked in beer, carrots cooked in beer, German potato salad, German green beans with bacon dressing and German cabbage.

The festivities were arranged by Ortner and club members Al and Carol Koszi of Fountain Hill, Mary Laronge of Allentown and Linny Esterly of South Whitehall Township. The evening wrapped up with a campfire that included a marshmallow roast and s'mores.

Ptarmigan, which celebrated its 50th anniversary three years ago, is one of the oldest ski clubs in the Lehigh Valley. The club once owned the former Apple Hill ski area. Ptarmigan meets at Fullerton Fire Company in Whitehall (just off Route 22) on the second Tuesday of each month, September through March.

The Club runs day, weekend and weeklong ski trips to places as close as Blue Mountain and as far away as New Zealand. The club offers year-round non-ski activities that range from weekly volleyball games to dinner trips and boating excursions.

For more information, call the club hotline at 610-433-7600 or go to www.ptarmiganskiclub.org.

Tina Bradford is a freelance writer. Information for this column may be sent to Scene, Features Department, The Morning Call, Box 1260, Allentown, PA 18105 or e-mailed to features@mcall.com with "Scene" in the message field.